Sutera plant named &#39;dancop20&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  plant named ‘DANCOP20’ particularly characterized by having 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 2.0 cm in diameter and blue in color with a yellow-orange colored throat and center; vigorous growth habit, which maintains a trailing, compact growth habit; early flowering response; and suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination planters and ground cover under full sunlight and slight shade.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE CLAIMED PLANT

Sutera cordata

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DANCOP20’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Suteraplant, botanically known as Sutera cordata, hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘DANCOP20’.

Sutera, of the Scrophulariaceae family, consists of annuals, which aregrown in most climate zones in the U.S., and only in zones 9 and 10 ifit is a perennial plant.

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Suteravariety with large, blue flowers and a trailing, compact growth habit.

The new Sutera cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program by the inventor in 2005, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. Open pollination of the seed parent, an unpatented Suteracultivar designated ‘CV-05-169’ (unpatented), took place in a controlledbreeding program in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The new Sutera‘DANCOP20’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, GabrielDanziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Sutera cultivar by vegetative tipcuttings was first performed in August of 2005 in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘DANCOP20’, which in combinationdistinguish this Sutera as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 2.0 cm in diameter and        blue in color with a yellow-orange colored throat;    -   2. Trailing, compact growth habit;    -   3. Early flowering response; and    -   4. Suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination        planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

Plants of the new Sutera ‘DANCOP20’ differ from plants of the parentalcultivar, Sutera ‘CV-05-169’ (unpatented), in the characteristicsdescribed in Table 1. TABLE 1 Female Parent New Cultivar ‘CV-05-169’Characteristic ‘DANCOP20’ (unpatented) Flower size Large, about 2 cmMedium, about 1.5 cm Vigor Strong Medium Leaf shape Elliptic Cordate

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Sutera ‘DANCOP20’ is the Sutera‘Gulliver White’ (patented) (please provide name, and indicate whetherit is patented or unpatented), in the following characteristicsdescribed in Table 2: TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar ‘DANGUL14’ (Disclosedin U.S. Plant New Cultivar Patent Application No. Characteristic‘DANCOP20’ 11/392,501) Flower size Large, about 2.0 cm Extra large,about 2.7 cm Growth intensity Vigorous Compact Flower color Blue WhitePlant Spread About 70 cm About 50 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Sutera ‘DANCOP20’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘DANCOP20’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘DANCOP20’ in a hanging planter at 3 months.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical single flower of ‘DANCOP20’ at3 months.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Sutera ‘DANCOP20’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, andday length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Sutera ‘DANCOP20’as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (RHS), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately 12:00 noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The ageof the plant described is 3 months.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Sutera cordata.        -   Commercial.—Bacopa c.v. Copia Great Blue Lake.-   Parentage: Sutera cultivar designated ‘CV-05-169’ (unpatented)-   Optimal growth conditions:    -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight or slight shade.        -   Temperature.—Day: 20° C. to 24° C. Night: 16° C. to 20° C.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to a low temperature of            about 10° C. and tolerant to a high temperature of about 30°            C.        -   Fertilization.—A balanced fertilizer with level of 100 ppm            Nitrogen.        -   Growth regulators.—Unnecessary.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tip cuttings of side shoots.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Easy to root.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 7 to 10 days at 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 14 days at 18° C.-   Plant:-   General appearance and form:    -   -   Height.—About 15 cm.        -   Spread.—About 70 cm.-   Shape: Trailing, vigorous growth habit.-   Winter hardiness: Hardy in moderate climate.-   Vigor: Strong.-   Crop time: About 8 to 10 weeks for a flowering pot.-   Fragrance: None.-   Branching habit: Vigorously branched.

Lateral branches: Vigorously branched. TABLE 3 Branch characteristicPrimary Secondary Length About 60 cm. About 35 cm. Diameter About 2 mm.About 1 mm. Internode About 3 cm. About 2 cm. Length Texture Slightlyrough Slightly rough Pubescence Present Present Color Yellow-Green, RHS146A Yellow-Green, RHS 146B

-   Foliage:-   Arrangement and attachment: Opposite, petiolate.-   Leaf length: About 3 cm.-   Leaf width: About 2.3 cm.-   Overall shape of leaf: Elliptic.-   Apex shape: Acute.-   Base shape: Acuminate.-   Margin: Dentate.-   Texture (both surfaces): Slightly velvety.-   Pubescence (both surfaces): Slightly present.-   Color of upper surface:    -   -   Mature leaf.—Green, RHS 137A.        -   Immature leaf.—Green, RHS 137C.-   Color of lower surface:    -   -   Mature leaf.—Green, RHS 137B.        -   Immature leaf.—Green, RHS 137C.-   Venation:    -   -   Pattern.—Palmate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Green, RHS 137B. Lower surface: Green,            RHS 137D.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—About 6 mm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Color.—Green, RHS 137A.-   Leaf fragrance: None.-   Flower description:-   Natural flowering season: All year round in moderate climate.    Flowering occurs between January and December outdoors in Israel.-   Flowering response time: About 4 weeks from planting.-   Flowering longevity: On the plant: Flowering of a single flower    lasts for 7 days.-   Flower fragrance: None.-   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant: Approximately 200.-   Flower bud (about 2 days prior to opening):    -   -   Shape.—Spatulate.        -   Length.—About 10 mm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Texture.—Velvety.        -   Color.—Violet, RHS N87A.-   Flower type: Solitary, auxiliary.-   Flower form: Salverform.-   Flower symmetry: Radial symmetric.-   Orientation at opening: Slanted upward and outward.-   Corolla size:    -   -   Diameter (spread).—About 2 cm.        -   Diameter at lobes.—About 20 mm.        -   Overall flower height.—About 12 mm.        -   Length of corolla tube.—About 9 mm.        -   Diameter of corolla tube.—About 2 mm.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Length.—About 8 mm.        -   Width.—About 6 mm.        -   Overall shape.—Rounded and gameopetalous.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture (upper & lower surfaces).—Slightly velvety (please            describe).        -   Color.—Upper surface, when opening: Blue, RHS N87B of violet            group. Upper surface, opened flower: Blue, RHS N87B of            violet group. Lower surface, when opening: Blue, RHS N87C of            violet group. Lower surface, opened flower: Blue, RHS N87C            of violet group.        -   Corolla throat color.—Yellow-orange, RHS 21A.-   Calyx:    -   -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm.            Overall shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin:            Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Velvety. Lower surface:            Velvety. Upper surface color: Green, RHS 137B Lower surface            color: Green, RHS 137B Anthocyan pigmentation of calyx limb:            Absent.        -   Pedicel.—Aspect: Slanted upward. Length: About 10 mm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About 45°. Texture: Velvety.            Color: Green, RHS 137D.-   Reproductive organs:-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamen.—Number: 4. Arrangement: Didynamous. Type: Basifixed.            Dehiscence of stamens: Extrorse. Color: Yellow, RHS 13A.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Cylinder. Length: About 1 mm. Color: Yellow,            RHS 13A.        -   Filaments.—Length: About 10 mm. Color: Green-Yellow, RHS 1C.        -   Pollen.—Amount: Moderate. Color: Yellow, RHS 13A.            Pollination requirements: Young flowers, vital pollen, and            receptive, open stigma.-   Gynoecium:    -   -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Length: About 9 mm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Undulate. Width: About 0.5 mm. Color:            Yellow-Green, RHS 150B.        -   Style.—Shape: Terete. Length: About 8 mm.        -   Ovary.—Shape: Ellipsoid. Position: Superior. Length: About            2 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Color: Green, RHS 143C.-   Seeds:    -   -   Quantity per fruit.—About 20.        -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Length.—About 0.5 mm.        -   Width.—About 0.5 mm.        -   Texture.—Rough.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS N167B.-   Fruit:    -   -   Type.—Capsule.        -   Shape.—Ellipsoid.        -   Length.—About 3 mm.        -   Width.—About 1 mm.        -   Texture.—Rugose.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS 165B.-   Disease/pest resistance: No information is currently available.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: No information is currently available.

1. A new and distinct Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP20’, as illustrated anddescribed herein.